Dr Bhandare feels that the role of the government should be to concentrate on preventive medicine, and educating the public about lifestyle diseases and alcoholism and get traffic discipline implemented. This itself will bring down the number of deaths due to such illnesses.

ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL DETAILS
✓ MBBS, University of Bombay, 1974.
✓ D. Ortho C P S (Bombay) 1978.
✓ M S Ortho University of Bombay, 1979.
✓ All degrees from Goa Medical College, Panaji. Goa.
✓ Pioneer Orthopedic Surgeon in Private Practice in Goa since 1981.
✓ Practically began the culture of private practice in Orthopedic Surgery in Goa.
✓ Have had plenty of “FIRSTs” Surgeries and Procedures in Goa.
✓ Belong to the species of GENERAL ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON which has become rare in the metros and big cities.
✓ Have managed to keep updated by regular interaction with peers in Bombay / Poona / Bangalore / Chennai. Attending workshops and Conferences regularly to keep myself updated.
✓ At present working as Senior Orthopedic Consultant at Manipal Hospitals Goa.
✓ Successfully carrying out all Orthopedic Surgical Procedures in management of Trauma, Hip, knee and shoulder Joint Replacements, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeries, Spine Surgeries, Ilizarov methodology for deformity correction and leg lengthening.

Reason to Join profession
✓ Fascinated by orthopedic surgeries from Medical College days.
✓ Influenced by my senior cousin Dr. S K Bhandare, who was the professor of Orthopedic Surgery at K E M Hospitals Bombay.
✓ Influenced by my Professor and Guide Dr J S Makhani. He was a great Surgeon and patients used come for him from places as far as Vijaywada for Surgical treatment in Polio and Cerebral Palsy.

Early challenges
✓ Being the pioneer surgeon in Panaji Goa I had to start the culture of Orthopedics in Private Practice. It took a while for the local population to get familiar with this concept as from many years orthopedic care was exclusively provided by the Medical College.
✓ Overcame all the difficulties of working in a small town set up, where even a screw and K wire was not available locally, and had to rely on purchases from Bombay. Very limited x ray facility, and C arm was not even heard of. There was no physiotherapy facility and had to start a new one in collaboration with an NGO.

Professional Highs
Positions Held:
✓ President IMA Tiswadi (1989-90). (Won the All India Best President award.)
✓ President IMA Goa State (2001-02).
✓ Founder President Goa Orthopedic Association. (1987)
✓ Past President Rotary Club of Panaji Midtown. (2004.05)
✓ Chairman, Disaster Management Cell, IMA Goa State. (2008 to 2012)
Awards
✓ Govt. of India: Ministry of Social Welfare and Empowerment awarded National Award for the services in Surgeries for Disabled in Dec. 2000.
✓ Goa Government: Award for the individual for services towards physically handicapped in Dec. 2003.
✓ Indian Medical Association Goa State Award (2004) for outstanding Services to the society.
✓ Dr. Emidio Afonso Memorial Scholarship (2005) for original research in the field of medicine.
✓ Giants International Award for Excellence in Profession (2005)
✓ Indian Orthopedic Association Award for work in POLIO CORRECTIVE SURGERY.
✓ Dhanvantari Award by Borim Association in 2018.

Management Thought
✓ Learn to keep things simple.
✓ Respect and empathize with the patients.
✓ We are great because our patients have made us great.
✓ Be available for the patients in distress all the time.
✓ Healthcare Vision ( Man vs. Machine harmonization):
✓ Being humane and sympathetic is the quality of the mankind. Machines can never replace this quality of human beings.
✓ Patients are cured just by listening to them and by personal examination. A professional and kind touch is a great aid in the healing process.
✓ Machines are a great boon in the art of healing. Better and quicker and more accurate diagnosis is achieved by the judicious use of the machines.
✓ Machines can render effective treatment to the sick and the injured patients.

Inspiration
✓ First by my parents.
✓ Professors and guides.
✓ Great personalities of India like JRD Tata, Dr Curian, President Abdul Kalam, Dr Vikram Sarabhai and many more personalities who have contributed to development of our country.
Your most important priority If you were health minister
A literate and economically well off state like Goa has lot of health care problems. It is full of patients having lifestyle diseases like Hypertension, Diabetes, heart diseases and alcohol related sicknesses.
✓ There are still vector borne diseases like Malaria, Dengue, etc which are preventable by proper hygiene and sanitation.
✓ There are over 300 deaths by road traffic accidents which too are preventable.
✓ I feel the role of the government should be to concentrate on preventive medicine, and educating the public about lifestyle diseases and alcoholism and get traffic discipline implemented. This itself will bring down the number of deaths due to such illnesses.
✓ The government should spend more on these issues and let the private sector spend on super specialty and advanced health care. The weaker sections of the society could utilize the private health care facilities under different health care schemes.

Family details
✓ Married to Dr Dalia Bhandare, who had been Professor of Anesthesiology at Goa Medical College, and is now working as Chief Anesthesiologist at Manipal Hospitals Goa. We have been together since last 42 years.
✓ Blessed with two lovely daughters who are married and settled in USA and UK. Both chose not to follow the profession of doctors.
✓ Four grandchildren, two boys in USA and a beautiful girl and a handsome boy in UK. All between the ages of five to 12 years.
✓ Regular visits to their countries and always look forwards to their visits
to us.

Hobbies
✓ Reading: Have a personal library containing over 2000 books in English and Marathi.
✓ Music: Fond of all types of music, special liking for Marathi Natyasangeet.
✓ Paintings: Like the paintings by the IMPRESSIONISTs and Ravi Verma paintings.
✓ Photography: Amature photographer, never without a camera. Cell phones have now made a difference.
✓ Walking, Swimming and outdoor Activities: Regular walker and have participated in many walkathons. Regular swimmer including sea swimming.

Best place for vacation in India and Abroad
✓ In India I like the North East with serene beauty and the mountains.
✓ Abroad I prefer all European countries.